Speech Pathologists at Therapyland are trained in the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). PECS is a teaching protocol based on behavior analysis that focuses on functional communication. It was developed by Lori Frost, MS, CCC-SLP and Andy Bondy, PhD. PECS is taught in phases. In the first phase, children are taught to request by exchanging a picture with a communication partner. Children are taught to initiate the interaction independently, not wait for their communication partner to start the interaction. In later phases, they request using more complex phrases, pair vocalizations with the requests, ask questions, and make comments. PECS can be used with children with a variety of disabilities. Current evidence indicates that PECS does not inhibit speech, but may increase speech production in some children. Some children who use this system later transition to a speech generating device.
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